It is known that three lakh farmers have been protesting in Delhi for the past 37 days demanding cancellation of the Farm Acts. The sixth round of talks between the government and 41 Farmers’ organizations appeared as if it would be resolved soon. Even after five hours of talks between 41 Farmers’ organizations and three Union Ministers no consensus was reached. The farmers have been demanding the government to withdraw the contentious farm laws. They recalled that during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government one Act had been cancelled. However, the Union Agriculture Minister Tomar, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister for State for Commerce Som Prakash did not agree to their demand.
The farmers have been demanding legality to the minimum support price. The ministers said that they cannot provide legality but can give assurance in writing. The farmers did not heed to the proposal of the ministers to form the committee to solve the issue.
The farmers in Punjab and Haryana are on verge of facing cases for polluting Delhi by burning crop wastage. The farmers wanted the government to withdraw this clause, to which the ministers responded positively. The farmers also demanded the government to withdraw the power bill, which mandates the installation of electricity meters, as they fear power subsidies would be cancelled. To this, the ministers said that the Acts were not implemented yet and assured them that the subsidies would continue. The farmers’ organizations are stating that the power bill was against the federal spirit.
There would be another round of talks between the two sides on January 4. The main issues are likely to be the withdrawal of Acts and providing legality to the minimum support price. The ministers also requested the farmers to take up the protest in a peaceful manner and asked them to send the senior citizens and children back home given the cold wave in the capital.
